Clamped hold-down strap



Jam 8,v 1952 G. E. FRox-:LlcH 2,581,646

CLAMPED HoLmnowu STRAP Filed Aug. 23, 195o Patented Jan. 8, 1952 CLAMPED HOLD-DOWN STRAP George E. Froelich, Two Rivers, Wis., assigner to Hamilton Manufacturing Company, Two Rivers, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application August 23, 1950, Serial No. 181,068

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a clamping device, more particularly to a combined hold-down and tear-oil device for sanitary paper coverings, for example, for a physicians examining table or the like, in which a web of paper is drawn onto the padded upper surface of the table rest member from a suitably mounted supply roll and upon which the patient may recline, thus avoiding direct contact with the table top surface and assuring enhanced cleanliness and sanitation, it being the practice to draw from the supply roll a new and fresh length of paper for each patient, the used length being torn off and discarded.

A combined hold-down and tear-off strap for such a table is shown in patent to Worth, No. 2,339,828, and in one important aspect, the present invention aims to provide an improved clamp for a device of the class just described which has enhanced efficiency and sightliness.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, and in which drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a physicians examining table with the device of the present invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing a paper roll mounted in the rest member;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 with parts in alternative positions and omitting the paper supply roll;

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the gripping member in separated relation with a fragment of the strap received therein indicated in broken lines;

Figure 5 is a cross-section through the rest member on the scale of Fig. 1 and taken on the line 5-5 thereof; I

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary axial section through the roller of the gripping member; and

Figure 7 is a partial view of the foot end of a table to which the device of the present invention may be applied if desired.

Referring in detail to the illustrative construction shown in the drawings, the numeral II in dicates the cabinet base portion of a physicians examining table upon which is supported a pair of padded rest members I2 and I3, forming a top therefor. In accordance with one common practice, the resty member l2 at the foot end of the parallel lugs 29 extending therefrom, these lugsi table may be stationary, While the rest member I3 may be hinged to the rest member I2 as at I4 to swing up and down toward and from the base to adjust it to various degrees of reclining position of the patient. A lifter rod mechanism, here indicated somewhat diagrammatically at I5 and more particularly described in Froelich Patent No. 2,314,778, issued March 23, 1943, may be employed for adjusting the angle of the rest member I3 with respect to the base II and the other rest member I2.

Also, as described and broadly claimed in Demcak Patent No. 2,267,973 issued December 30, 1941, the head portion of the rest member I3 is advantageously upwardly recessed as at I6 (Fig. 2) to provide a chamber opening into the underside of the rest member for the recepition of a paper supply roll mounting spindle I'I upon which is wound a paper supply roll I8, desirably of a sterilized stock, from the web of which may be drawn successive lengths I9 of paper to be laid over the rest members I3 and I2 as at 23, the paper normally extending about the head of the rest member I3 and to a point adjacent the exf tremity of the rest member I2 at the foot of the table where the paper web may be held down by any suitable means such as the spring clips and somewhat rigid in a transverse plane. It is .a

also preferably transparent so as to be relatively inconspicuous.

In accordance with the present invention, the

strap 23 has one end anchored at one side ofthe table top as by a screw and washer attachment 25 (Fig. 5), and, therefrom, extending across the rest member I3 to overlie the paper web 20 with the other end of the strap initially or sometimes free as indicated at 26 (Fig. 3).

Further following the present invention, and to secure this free end 26, the strap 23 `:is engaged by the gripping member 24 next described i in detail.

The gripping member 24, as here shown, includes a bracket 21 having plate part 23 and providing journals for a friction-grip roller 30. The roller 30 is desirably of rubber or rubber-like elastomer having a medium hardness and having axially extending integral ribs 3l uniformly spaced apart at relatively close intervals about its periphery, thereby giving it a fiuted surface. The roller 30 is a generally solid cylinder and, as best 'seenin '.Fig. 6, has a central Ibore 32 through which is passed, asby a press fit, a tubular bushing 33. The bushing 33 is passed through suitable aligned perforations in the bracket lugsv` 29 and thereupon the ends of the bushingare anged or riveted, as at 34, over the outer faces of the lugs 29 respectively, but iin-such4 a wayfthat the roller and bushing together mayrotateini the bracket.

As best seen in Fig. 3, the roller-is somounted in the bracket that when the strap 23 is not inserted therein the ribs 3l of the roller `bear against the plate part of the bracket as at 35 for a-.purpose presently ip ointed. out.

@For mounting ytheubracket 21, `the latter `ma have screw holes .35 in its. plate .portion 28 through which screwsl' may be passed into the woodof the rest member I3. vAtf'this pointof attachmennthe. rest` member is.v desirably. notched asat 38 atiits lower .edge-toreceive the frictiongrip member and render. the latter also relatively nconspicuous.

So lconstructed and arranged, the preliminary free end 26 of the strap 23 is passed into 'the space-between the friction roller 3!! and the plate part-28, Vas-bestseen in--Figsj-l and 5. VSince/the roller ribs 3 I are Inormally L in .engagement with the plate part y:28 .of :the bracket, the strap` 23 must be forced therebetween against rthe resilience of the rubber-like material vof uthe roller. Thusvsubstantial effort is required to rotate the relier, particularly when the strapis inserted as described, and the strap end 26 is thus-firmly and securely but Anevertheless Areleasably held.

I o `.facilitate passage of the strap between the plate partv and roller, the plate part is hereshown having an-oblique ange as at 39 along-"the edge of the plate part-28 opposite `the edge having the screw-holes 36, thus providing v.somewhat in the nature .of 'a flared mouth for the entry of the strap end, and also providing a spring action, which, when the screws 31 arescrewed in, enhances'the securityof attachment of thebracket tothe wood.

`Operation of the device as here shown isas follows:

Assuming that the strap end 26 has been engaged with the friction grip member 24 andthe physician or other operator now desires to lay a'lengthof paper along therest member, he canloo'senthe s trap 23 by moving the end z2t backwards in the 'friction grip, at which time the roller `30-will rotate clockwise as seen in Fig. 3 to permit suchloosening movement. Thelength of Vpa per-2 II may then be passed under the strap 23and'drawn down to coincide withthefoot end of the `*table Vwhere vit is Vsecured .by `clipsf2'l. Thereupon, the operator Yagain grasps the end 26 offthe strap and pulls itdown further' through the -Vfriction-grip -member until the ystrap conforms snugly to thepadded top ofthe rest member I3, with `the Apaper then between thefstrap and ,the rest member. To accommodate 'this tightening action on the strap, the roller .3B will rotate in a counterclockwise direction as seen-in Fig.- 3. Inieach such rotation, that is,'for loosening or tightening the strap, the strap is firmly and securely-held, and due -to the' friction involved, the roller will remainV at any rotative position upon manual adjustment of the strap, as just described.

Next, when a succeeding patient is expected, the operator may release the paper web 20 from the clamps 2| and with one simple movement may tear the paper against the edge of the strap 23 to cut ol the used length of paper. :Since the plastic materialof the strap is relatively hard and has substantial transverse rigidity while still -being relatively thin, the paper may be torn against this edge l'of the strap, the latter acting as a cutter to effect easy and straight-line separation-of theold andnew paper lengths.

Following the tearing oil of the old paper length 20, the strap 23 may be again loosened .suficiently to permit the new edge of paper lying coincident with the cutting edge Il of the strap tobe grasped by the ngers of the operator and a new length of paper I9 drawn from the paper supplyroll ll8,lfthe latten-rotating units mounting I'I-for thispurpose. 'When arsuicient length of paper has -been'drawnto 'cover the table top, the strap may :be-againtightened, .by means of the-friction-grip member `24,

So constructed and arrangedthe strap may be readily raised after the lentgh ofpaper has been torn off, to enable the'flngers of the operatorlto get hold of the paperforpulling out a new-length. Duringv the replacementl ofthe paper, by Vreason of the character lofthe strap and l`4the frictiongrip arrangement the strap ywill Vremain Ain a Yraisedposition over thetabletopas a=new=1ength paper. The device wiuli'engthen thev life of the strap, since there `are nosharp p oints or `edges engaging the strap while it is Vheld Vunderitension, and, atthe same time, the degree of tension on the strap and of the strap on the paper canbe closely regulated. When at times it may be desired to remove the end `25 of the strap fromthe friction grip, as for cleaning or other purposes, this can be readily done and the strap later quickly restored to engagement with the'friction grip. i

'The screw holes `V3S are'desirablycountersunk as atla to receive the-heads of the screws-1?] iiush with thebracketpart 2-8.

AThe device '22, comprising the strap 23 and friction grip member `24', may be'used at the foot end of the table II asin'Fig. '7, in place of the spring clips `2 I, at which'time-it may function as both a hold-down and a Vtear-01T device, since it permits a controlled pressure to be exerted on the Vpaper 2l] holding itrmly in position'on the table tOIJ. and Vthis is true alsoeven when the deviceis used at thefhead end of the table as in' Fig. 1.

The invention'is notfintended to be limited to details of construction or field yof application shown for purposes of exempliiicationof the invention, and suchfchan'ges and adaptationsrmay be madeasfall within the scope-of the appended claims without departing therefrom.

The f inventionA having -been described, whatI is here claimed is: Y

1. In a clamped hold-down strap1-for` sanitary paper'covering for the padded-top of a physicians examining table, a substantially A,non-elastic transversely somewhat rigid plastic-straphaving one end xedly securedatonaside of .saidstable 'Y top adjacent the lower edge'thereof `and extendthereof, and a gripping member secured adjacent the lower edge of the top at said opposite side, said member comprising a plate part and a resilient roller journaled in said member in frictional engagement with said plate part, whereby said strap may be passed between the roller and plate part in gripping engagement therewith and extending therebeyond for manual manipulation to tighten or loosen the strap over said padded top.

.2. In a clamped holdedown strap for sanitary paper covering for the padded top of a physicians examining table, a substantially non-elastic strap having one end xedly secured at one side of said table top adjacent the lower edge thereof and extending across said padded top to a distance beyond the lower edge of the top at the opposite side thereof, said lower edge at said opposite side being notched, and a gripping member secured in said notch, said member comprising a plate part and a ribbed rubber roller journaled in said member in frictional engagement with said plate part, whereby said strap may be passed between the roller and plate part in gripping engagement therewith and extending therebeyond for manual manipulation to tighten or loosen the strap over said padded top, the plate having an oblique iiange at one end and being secured to said top by screws passing through its opposite end.

3. In a clamped hold-down strap for sanitary paper covering for the padded top of a physicians examining table, a substantially non-elastic transversely somewhat rigid plastic strap having one end xedly secured at one side of said table top adjacent the lower edge thereof and extending across said padded top to a distance beyond the lower edge of the top at the opposite side thereof, and a gripping member for said strap secured adjacent the lower edge oi' the top at said opposite side, whereby said strap may be passed into gripping engagement therewith and the strap extends therebeyond for manual manipulation to tighten or loosen the strap over said padded top.

GEORGE E. FROELICH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 482,531 Shanks Sept. 13, 1892 899,484 Dorman Sept. 22, 1908 1,144,556 Lowe June 29, 1915 1,829,918 Andrews Nov. 3, 1931 1,967,422 Nadelson July 24, 1934 2,096,551 Johnson Oct. 19, 1937 2,281,522 Jaynes Apr. 28, 1942 2,339,828 Worth Jan. 25, 1944 2,518,563 Myers Aug. 15. 1950 

